COMMUNITY

SAGE: EVERYDAY HEROES

R YD
E The following
images represent

AY
culturally diverse members
EV
of SAGE’s New York City
community. They have braved
hatred and homophobia in all its
ugly forms – stormed the streets
and fought for equality in the
workplace, challenged church and
state for their right to marry
and raise chıldren. Out There
and SAGE celebrate LGBT

E
H

S
senior citizens – our most
valuable natural

E
resource.

RO
Words MATTHEW WEXLER | Portraits SAM GANADO

S
AGE is the world’s largest
and oldest organisation
dedicated to improving the
lives of older LGBT adults.
SAGE (Services & Advocacy
for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Tra n s gend er E ld er s) i s
transforming the world view on ageing
through advocacy and leadership, new
services focused on caregiving and financial
security and personal empowerment.
Breaking ground with landmark funding
from the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, SAGE (in collaboration
with ten leading organizations) has been
awarded a three-year grant to establish
the first-ever National Resource Center on
LGBT Ageing. This knowledge will evolve
and spread and be accessible to regions
far and wide.
sageusa.org
GREGORY TERRY “I am a diva, proud of who I am and happy to be me. I get some flack from people who don’t like my ‘flaunting
about’, but I just say, ‘if you don’t like it, don’t look!’ I’ve lived all over NYC in some tough hoods and have learned how to take care of myself.
I’m comfortable in my very thick skin! I am an activist – always have been. I was at some of the first Pride parades and was involved in Men of
All Colors (MACT), combating racism in the LGBT community when it first started over 30 years ago. We’d protest at bars that didn’t allow
black or gay people in and definitely had a lot of face-offs with the police and the general public. I still can party though and plan on being
Lady Gaga for an upcoming MACT fundraiser! I was out in junior high, when I was 13 or 14. This was in Harlem. I toughed up real fast. What I
want to say to anyone who sees this is, don’t be afraid to be who you are – just live your life the way you see fit. You’ll be happier if you do.”

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COMMUNITY
SAGE: EVERYDAY HEROES
BARBARA POLICE “I was born and raised in Greenwich
Village. I grew up knowing I was gay and have been out all my life. I
fought mightily for women’s rights - we did an awful lot of
advocating in the early days of the movement. Gloria Steinem, Bella
Abzug – you name em, I’ve worked with them. I want people to
know that if we didn’t do what we did in the past, we wouldn’t have
the rights we have today, but there is still much more to be done.”
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PAT SLOANE “I feel like I’m in my 30’s. I love life and my partner
and being able to do all of the things I want to do, but that’s
because being gay now is completely different. I used to live in the
Bronx and wherever I went, police would hassle me because I
wasn’t wearing at least “three feminine articles” of clothing. I knew I
was gay when I was four! I think people should know that the older
generation fought extremely hard for the gains we have now.”
GEONALDO GENAO “Being gay, at first, was a lot of trouble. I grew up in the Dominican Republic in a Catholic family. Needless to
say, neither were welcoming. I left for the USA in 1978 and lived in NYC for two years before moving to Denver, CO. I was accepted into a
seminary and had the opportunity to graduate with a BA in religious studies and philosophy. I know, I know… I wanted to help people and
change the perception of being a gay Catholic priest. That didn’t really work out. I thought that there were so many closeted people within
the Catholic community, me included, and that if we could just get together, some change could be made, but I was naive. The prejudices I
faced were too difficult and I was only officially “out” in 1994. I’m proud to be gay! Right now I’m looking after my health and I need a lot of
medical treatments. SAGE helps me by having a community and a place to go when I need help. I also volunteer and give help when I can.”
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SAGE: EVERYDAY HEROES

INTERVIEWS: CHRISTINE DA CASTA | HAIR AND MAKE-UP: DIANA CALLE | FLOWERS: HEATH ALAN RAY | WALLPAPERLAURAASHLEY.COM
STILL LIFE SHOTS STYLED BY: POP KAMPOL SPECIAL THANKS TO JAKE WALTERS. CONTINUED PAGE 208
SHEILA BLIGEN “My first kiss – I must have been 17 and I don’t remember the girl’s name or what she looked like, but it was
amazing. It was just such a fantastic experience and I thought to myself “I like this.” Within that same year, I became a lesbian. I fell back
into the closet, though - because everyone, including my mother, and maybe a little part of myself, said it “was a phase.” I had children,
and they are one of the best things I’ve done in my life, even though I didn’t really like being with a man. I now have grandchildren and a
great-grandson. I wasn’t really part of the political side of the gay movement. Once I came “out” again, I was “out”, but at that point, I
never really dealt with any discrimination. There is only one time in my memory that stands out, when a co-worker completely cut me out
of her life when she found out I had a partner. I wish people could just live their lives and be happy with themselves.”
MICHAEL FEUER “I never think of myself as old. I really do feel 25 sometimes. I am very proud to be gay. My parents were extremely
liberal and never had a problem with it. I think I first knew when I was about four and told my parents when I was nine. My parents were
extremely supportive, but I only told my brother when I turned 30. Needless to say, he totally supports me. That’s not to say that I didn’t
have my share of problems dealing with prejudice. Luckily, I’ve always gravitated to big cities. I would never move out of the Village now
– never. I am a fighter for our community. Always have been. SAGE at the Center has become my home from home and it means so much to
me to have a safe space with people who accept me. Before I die, I want there to be a better understanding between LGBTs and straights
– we can help each other so much. I tend to be flamboyant, a performer! I love life and hope that everyone has the energy I have at my age.”

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